Anchoring means for flexible members



Dec. 25, 1945. s. LIPTON 2,391,788

ANCHORING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE MEMBEERS Filed .Mdrch 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR LSRPfl/Y 4 704/ WW QMW Dec. 25, 1945. s, LIPTON 2,391,788

ANCHORING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE MEMBERS Filed March 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS anchored on the flexible Patented Dec. 25, 1945 ANCHORING MEANS FOR FLEXIBLE MEMBERS Sarah Lipton, New York, N. 35.; Jane Lipton Orban administratrix of said Sarah Lipton, de-

ceased Application March 4, 1944, Serial N 0. 525,011

Claims.

This invention relates to flexible fasteners and anchoring needle means therefor of novel construction. Flexible fastening means having anchoring needles thereon of such a nature that the needle can be pushed through a layer of fabric and then turned so as to interlock behind the fabric leaving the flexible element coming out through the hole through which the needle is passed are well known and are used for a number of purposes, having special applicability to fastening and adjusting devices for hats. The flexible fastening elements may be either elastic or inelastic material, elastic being preferred when the members are used for hat adjusting fastening means. The flexible element may have an anchoring needle on one or both ends thereof, or may be in loop form with its ends united in a single needle. The present invention relates particularly to the construction of the anchoring needle and its mode of attachment to the flexible element.

It is an object of the invention to provide an anchoring needle construction having a double grip for insuring secure and permanent attachment of the needle to the flexible element.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchoring needle construction which is strong and rigid and which is so constructed by being folded or rolled about the flexible element as to form an efiective anchor therewith even though made of very light gauge metal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a needle construction which will be firmly member without danger of cutting into the latter.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a hat showing howa fastener of the type to which the present invention relates may be applied to a hat band for adjusting the head size. As will be un derstood, this is merely illustrative of one application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the shape of the blank for making one form of anchoring needle.

Figure 3 is a view showing the blank partly folded around the end of the flexible element.

Eigure 4 shows the completely formed needle after the second stage of folding of the blank so as to complete the wrapping of the same around the flexible element.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on line Figure 4, the scale being enlarged.

Figure 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a View of a difi'erent form of blank used for making a slightly modified form of anchoring needle.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views similar to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively, showing the folding of the blank and the final construction using the type of blank shown in Figure 7; Figure 10 being a longitudinal section on line Ill-H of Figure 9, and Figure 11 being a transverse section on line i l-|l of Figure 10.

Figures 12 to 16 are similar views indicatin-ganother modification of the invention; Figure 12 showing the blank, Figure 13 showing the blank partly folded over the end of the flexible'member, Figure 14 showing the complete folding or rolling of the blank about the flexible member, Figure '15 being a longitudinal section on line l5-l5 of Figure 14, and Figure 16 being a transverse section on line |6l6 of Figure 15.

Figures 17 to 21 are similar views showing another form of blank and the anchoring needle made therefrom.

Figure 1 shows one application of a fastening device embodying the present invention, the fastener shown comprising a piece of flexible material or cord 25 which is usually but not necessarily elastic and which in the instance shown has an anchoring pin 26 at each end thereof, the pins being shown in dotted lines because they are anchored back of the head band of the hat. The anchoring pins each have a point 21 which may be pushed through the head band or other flexible member to which the fastener is to be attached, and a tail portion 28. After the pin or needle has been pushed through the head band or other flexible member the needle is then swung transversely so that it acts as an anchor.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figures 2 to 6 inclusive, the blank has a point portion 39, a tail portion 32, and two wings 33 and 34. The wing 34 is notched at its outer edge so as to form pointed portions 35. The first stage of applying the anchoring needle to the flexible member 25 is shown in Figure 3 where the blank is shown curled into a somewhat tubular shape by bringing notched wing '34 over towards the left so that the end of the flexible member is partly enclosed. The blank is then removedzfrom the die (not shown) by which it is formed into the shape shown in Figure 3 and is placed in another suitable die in which it is bent from left to right approximately along the line designated fold line in Figure 3. The blank is thus curled into tubular form, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. This bending of the partially accomplished as to bend the points 36 of the formed blank is so wing 34 back upon the wing, as clearly shown in Figure 6. Wing 33 is wrapped around over the points and the whole needle firmly compressed in the die. As the needle is made out of light gauge material, the pressure applied to the outside of the wing 33 causes the latter to press down on the pointed portions 36 of the wing 34 which in turn more or less indent the central part of the blank or wing 34 as shown particularly at 40 in Figure 5. These indentations serve to firmly grip the end of the flexible member 25 which is completely surrounded and enclosed by the overlapping wings. The enclosing of the flexible cord by first curling one wing of the blank in one direction and then overlapping it with the other wing of the blank curled in the other direction produces a double lock which holds the end of the flexible material more firmly than it can be clamped by simply curling up the material into an open sided or longitudinally split tube, such as is done by most anchoring needles. Furthermore, the indenting effect produced in the manner described is very satisfactory as while it effectively prevents the flexible material from pulling out of the needle, no sharp edges are presented by the metal parts which would be likely to cut the flexible member. This is particularly important where the flexible member is an elastic member. It is to be noted that the notched or pointed portions 36 do not directly contact the flexiblemember.

In curling the blank around the end of the' flexible member the point-forming portion 30 of the blank is curved so as to produce a good needle point and the tail portion 32 is also partially curved so as to give ample rigidity. The whole needle is given greater strength by the overlapping of the two wings and it may therefore be made of extra light gauge sheet thereby saving in metal. The needle also has a sufficiently smooth exterior to form a needle which may be readily pushed through the fabric to which the device is to be attached.

Figures '7 to 11 inclusive show a modified form of the anchoring needle in which the blank has a point portion 30a, a tail portion 32a, a wing 33a which in the form shown terminates in an obtuse point, and the wing 34a having three pointed portions 35a. The blank is folded about the end of the flexible member 25 in substantially the same manner as in the previous form of the invention. The three notched portions 36a give more indentations for gripping the end of the flexible member. The upper portion 36a laps around over the lower part of the point portion 30a, as shown clearly in Figures 9 and 10.

Figures 12 to 16 inclusive show another form of anchoring needle in which the blank has a point portion 301), a tail portion 32b, and two Wings 331) and 34b which are preferably each of obtuse pointed shape. When .the blank is given its second fold, as shown in Fig. 14, the tip of the wing 34b is folded back upon-itselfto provide a bent portion 361) which is pressed into the material beneath it so as to form an indentation, as indicated at 40b in Fig. 15.

Figures 17 to 21 inclusive show another modification of the invention, in which Figure 1'7 shows the form of the blank comprising a point portion 300, a tail portion 320, wing 33c and wing 34c.

. wing 330 is curved over The wing 340 has two corners 42 which are first bent over inwardly, as shown in Figure 18. The the end of the flexible element 25, as shown in Figure 18, and finally the wing 340 with the inwardly bent corners 42 is wrapped around over the wing 330 the end of which is at the same time folded back upon itself. When the needle is finally compressed to form in a die, the corners 42 depress the underlying material, as shown in Figure 20, producing indentations which firmly grip the end of the flexible member.

While I have illustrated certain preferred forms of my invention, it is to 'be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific constructions illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be utilized.

I claim:

1. A fastener of the character described comprising a flexible fastening member having an anchoring needle clamped thereon, said anchoring needle comprising a sheet metal member having a point portion at one end thereof, a tail portion at the other end thereof, and a pair of wings wrapped around the end of the flexible member, one of said wings overlapping the second of said wings, and said second wing having a portion overlapping upon itself so as to depress the metal beneath it.

2. A fastener of the character described comprising a flexible fastening member having an anchoring needle clamped thereon, said anchoring needle comprising a sheet metal member having a point portion at one end thereof, a tail portion at the other end thereof, and a pair of wings wrapped around the end of the flexible member, one of said wings overlapping the second of said wings, and said second wing having its end portion bent back upon itself so as to depress the member beneath it, the backwardly bent end of said second wing being pointed.

3. A fastener of the character described comprising a flexible fastening member having an anchoring needle clamped thereon, said anchoring needle comprising a sheet metal member havin a point portion at one end thereof, a tail portion at the other end thereof, and a pair of wings wrapped around the end of the flexible member, one of said wings overlapping the second of said wings, and said second wing having its end portion bent back upon itself so as to depress the metal beneath it, the backwardly bent end of said second wing being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced points or notches.

4. An anchoring needle ofthe character described comprising a sheet metal member having an inserting point at one end thereof, a tail portion at the other end thereof, and a body formed of two overlapping wings, the end of the under wing having a backwardly bent edge which is depressed so as to form indentations in the metal and described in detail beneath the same, the outer wing overlapping said backwardly bent portion of the under wing.

5. An anchoring needle as claimed in claim 4 in which the backwardly bent wing edge has a pointed part.

SARAH LIPTON. 

